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Home » Complete Guides » How to Plant Rosemary from Cuttings

How to Plant Rosemary from Cuttings

Updated : December 18, 2014

3 Comments

Fresh Rosemary is one of the most fragrant and flavorful herbs to have in your garden! Some studies have also shown that essential oil from rosemary, when sniffed, improves your memory.

How to Plant Rosemary from Cuttings

Step 1: Gather your Equipment

rosemary 1

One or several 6 to 8 inch spring of Rosemary

Small planting pot(s)

Soil or potting mix

Plastic wrap or quart size zip lock bags

 Step 2: Strip at least 2 inches of herb off the stems

rosemary 2

Step 3:

rosemary 3Dip the stem into rooting compound make sure all areas of the stem that you strip get submerged into the powder or liquid depending on what you are using.

Step 4:

rosemary 4Fill your pot with dirt and plant the rosemary making sure the only portion that is covered in dirt is the stripped area.

Step 5:

rosemary 5Water the plant just to moisten the dirt and cover the pot with a quart size zip lock bag or plastic wrap to create a greenhouse effect.

Make sure if you are using plastic wrap don’t wrap too tight and leave easy access for watering.

Check dampness of the soil every few days water if necessary.  NEVER over water. Over watering will cause the plant to rot.

If your hothouse is working properly you will see condensation on the plastic and that will be enough to keep your plant watered.

After your rosemary has been in your makeshift hothouse for one week take off the plastic and gently pull on the plant.

If the plant is hard to tug on then the roots have started to grow and you can remove the plastic cover.

Should the rosemary plant move easily this means the roots have not yet developed. No need to worry just put the plastic back over your plant for one more week.

Remember the more you trim your plant the bushier it will be come.

The best time to propagate Rosemary is in early spring or fall. See  how to dry your herbs here: http://www.freeplants.com/HowToDryHerbs.html

Zones 6 – 10 will have no issues with plants being outdoors year around

Zones 4 – 5 will need to cover the plant with straw for winter

Zones 1 – 3 will need to bring plants in for winter and water regularly

rosemary 6

 

Author: H.M. Swanston, Stone House Farm LLC Missouri

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stone-House-Farm-LLC/606360882813187

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Comments

  1. Alex says

    May 3, 2016 at 11:23 pm

    Rosemary contains a natural rooting hormone . Many florists say to root rosemary in a small round container in water which, concentrates the hormone and causes faster rooting . Whatever you do, try and keep the rosemary leaves dry to prevent them from rotting , also rosemary has very fine roots which rot easily if over watered.
    Thanks,
    Alex

    Reply
  2. Wyzyrd says

    December 15, 2014 at 2:10 pm

    Good article. 🙂

    Only thing I would add is: Pour out a little of the rooting hormone powder onto a plateand roll th ecut stem in it vs. dipping the cutting into the bottle. Toss any extra when done. Otherwise, you might be introducing a bacteria or virus or mold spore from one cutting into the whole big bottle. This might hurt your next set of cuttings and make you toss the whole container instead of just a tiny bit.

    LOL – this got repeatedly pounded into my head in Ag School and Master Gardener classes 🙂

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      December 15, 2014 at 2:15 pm

      Great advice Geezer!

      Reply

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